As we await the final version of the new Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022, we though it would be helpful to detail some of the new changes so you can be prepared.
Some of the key changes proposed are listed here and we will keep you up to date throughout the process. Our eLearning training will also be updated for 1st September 2022 in-line with the new guidance.
Policy Changes
You will need to ensure you update all your key policies to reflect KCSiE 2022, rather than 2021. Sounds obvious but this is often overlooked!
children are not always ready or able to talk about their experiences of abuse and/or may not always recognise that they are being abused.
Keeping Children Safe in Education – Proposed changes 2022
Terminology
Terminology throughout KCSiE 2022 has changed from peer-on-peer abuse to child-on-child abuse. You will need to ensure your safeguarding policy reflects this and update any reference to peer-on-peer abuse. RecordMy has already updated the category selections so you will find child-on-child abuse in the category list. This looks to be more of a consistency change to reflect the terminology in the Sexual violence snd sexual harassment guidance.
Definitions for “victim” and “perpetrator” have also been added.
Domestic Abuse
New information has been added to explain the impact of domestic abuse. Information has been added to highlight the potential long term detrimental impact on children’s health, wellbeing and ability to learn of experiencing domestic abuse at home or within their own intimate relationships.
Sexual violence & Sexual harassment
The DfE sexual violence and sexual harassment guidance has been incorporated into KCSiE 2022.
There is also more emphasis on risks for LGBT children and/or those that are perceived to be. Staff are reminded about that LGBT inclusion is part of the statutory relationships education/relationships and sex education curriculum. Senior leaders are reminded of the crucial part education settings play in preventative education within the context of a whole-school or college approach that creates a culture that does not tolerate any form of prejudice or discrimination, including sexism and misogyny/misandry. The expectation is that schools/colleges’ values and standards in this area will be underpinned by their behaviour policy, pastoral support system, as well as a planned programme of evidence based RSHE.
Safer recruitment
The guidance clarifies that a curriculum vitae (CV) should only be accepted alongside a full application form.
The guidance now states that education settings should consider conducting online searches (including publicly available social media searches) as part of their due diligence during the recruitment process.
Governance
The importance that governors and proprietors properly support the DSL role has been given prominence by adding it to the main body of the guidance and includes an expectation that they should read the full DSL job description in Annex C.
Equality
Relevant parts of Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA), the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty have been outlined and explicitly linked to safeguarding, particularly as regards to diversity inclusion, prejudicial and discriminatory bullying and sexual violence & harassment.
Allegations and safeguarding concerns about staff
Learning from all allegations against staff investigations should be incorporated by schools and colleges, not just from those that are concluded and substantiated.
The guidance now makes clear that schools and colleges can choose to whom low level concerns about staff are reported to, so long as it is clear in their policies.